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BREAKING: Murder-suicide investigation launched

Police remain at the scene of a horrific double death in Maguiresbridge yesterday afternoon during which a 51-year-old local woman was murdered.

The body of a 55-year-old man was also discovered at the house in the Abbey Road area. Police and ambulance crews were called to the scene at around 4.20pm on Monday. Ms Leonard suffered fatal stab wounds during the brutal attack while it’s believed that Phair took his own life.

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The victims have been named locally as Peadar Phair, 55, and 51-year-old Concepta Leonard. It is believed the pair had previously been in a relationship but had spilt up in recent months.

Ms Leonard’s son, Conor, who is in his 30s and has Down’s Syndrome, was also in the house at the time of the incident and suffered stab wounds to his abdomen in what police say was an attempted murder. He is currently in a stable condition in hospital.

Sinn Féin MLA Michelle Gildernew spoke of her shock at the tragic deaths: “This is a quite a tight knit community and the news has upset many. I have spoken to family members who are quite obviously shocked and devastated.” Local MP Tom Elliott added that his thoughts and prayers were with the sorrowing families.

Police say that post mortem examinations will be carried out in due course but at this stage they say they are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Eamon Corrigan added: “Although our enquiries are at an early stage, we are treating the death of the woman as murder. The injuries to a man, aged in his 30’s, who was also in the house at the time of the incident and who suffered stab wounds to his abdomen, is being treated as attempted murder. He is currently in hospital in a stable condition. We are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident at this time but I would ask anyone with any information which could assist us with our enquiries to contact detectives at the Incident Room in Lisnaskea on 101.”